How to play 2048
2048 is a sliding-tile puzzle. Every move slides all of the tiles in one direction at once; when two tiles with the same number collide, they merge into a single tile worth their sum. Build up to the 2048 tile to win — and keep going for a higher score.
The rules
- Slide the tiles. Swipe or press an arrow key (or WASD) to slide every tile as far as it will go in that direction.
- Merge equal tiles. When two tiles with the same number collide, they merge into one tile worth their sum, and that value is added to your score.
- Watch for new tiles. After every move that changes the board, a new 2 or 4 tile appears in a random empty square.
- Reach 2048. Keep merging until you build a 2048 tile to win — then keep going for an even higher score, or start fresh.
Controls
- Touch: swipe up, down, left, or right anywhere on the board.
- Keyboard: arrow keys or WASD to slide the tiles.
- Undo: press the Undo button, the U key, or Ctrl+Z (endless and puzzle-library games only).
- New game: the New Game button starts a fresh board at any time.
How new tiles appear
After every move that changes the board, one new tile spawns in a random empty square. It is a 2 nine times out of ten, and a 4 the rest of the time. A move that cannot slide or merge anything does nothing — no tile spawns — so you never waste a spawn.
Winning and game over
You win the instant you create a 2048 tile. You can choose Keep going to chase 4096 and beyond, or start fresh. The game ends when the board is full and no move in any direction can merge two tiles.
Tips to reach 2048
Pick a corner and commit
Choose one corner — most players use the bottom-left — and keep your single largest tile pinned there. Every plan flows from that anchor: you build toward it and never let it get bumped out.
Use only two or three directions
If your big tile lives in the bottom-left, swipe left and down almost exclusively, with the occasional right. Avoid swiping up, which lifts your anchor off the wall and scatters your carefully stacked tiles.
Build a descending chain
Line your biggest tiles up along the bottom row in decreasing order — 2048, 1024, 512, 256 — so each one is ready to merge into its neighbor. This 'snake' keeps merges flowing in a single direction.
Merge toward the anchor, not away
When two equal tiles can merge, prefer the merge that moves value toward your corner. Merging away from the anchor breaks your chain and strands large tiles in the middle of the board.
Keep the board breathing
A full board is a lost board. Cash in small merges to free up squares before you run out of room, and don't hoard dozens of tiny tiles you have no plan to combine.
Slow down when it's tight
Speed causes mistakes. When only a few empty squares remain, stop swiping on reflex and read the whole board — one careless up-swipe can end a great game. Undo is there in endless mode if you slip.